Actor Kevin Clay lands his dream role in 'The Book of Mormon'

By R. Scott Reedy, Correspondent

Tuesday

Aug 7, 2018 at 9:35 AMAug 8, 2018 at 4:50 PM

The musical “The Book of Mormon” became a Broadway blockbuster thanks to a book, music and lyrics by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with composer Robert Lopez (“Frozen,” “Avenue Q”), and a plot that sets its comically irreverent sights squarely on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

From the opening number, “Hello,” it’s clear, especially to anyone who’s ever found a relentlessly upbeat Mormon missionary on the other side of the door, that the show isn’t designed to hurt anybody – it’s just poking fun at the inconsistencies of organized religion.

The musical premiered at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011. It went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has yet to play to an empty seat. Perhaps inspired by the old axiom, if you can’t beat them, join them, the LDS Church reacted calmly to the musical, encouraging theatergoers also to read the book of the same name.

“In most cities where we play, Mormon missionaries stand outside the theater before every performance. The Church is definitely not against us. They even advertise in our playbills,” explained performer Kevin Clay, who plays Elder Price in the second national tour of “The Book of Mormon,” which opens its run at the Boston Opera House Aug. 14.

“I always make it a point to talk to them and they couldn’t be nicer. Many of the missionaries haven’t seen the show, but they’re very curious about it. They want to know about my character and what he gets involved in.”

That would be quite a lot – beginning in Salt Lake City where Elder Price and a band of wholesome young men with megawatt smiles pair up to learn where they will serve their missions. For the earnest, leading-man-handsome Price and his plucky, truth-challenged sidekick, Elder Cunningham, it’s destination Uganda.

Price’s surprise at the posting is something with which Clay says he can empathize.

“I was brought up Catholic and ingrained in that faith until high school. As I started to experience more of the world and study more things, I came to understand that there is more to the idea of what faith can do for people as opposed to just belonging to one specific organized religion or another. I think that’s a big part of Elder Price’s struggle.

“He is expecting his life to be amazing and perfect because that is the way it has always been. He’s never faced anything tricky or challenging before, so when it comes to Uganda he has to completely change his mind-set and world view.”

And while Elder Price had been dreaming of doing his missionary work amid the theme parks of Orlando, Florida, Clay says he’d have his own fingers crossed for someplace at least a bit more far-flung.

“If I were him, I would be hoping to get lucky and be assigned to somewhere in Europe, like maybe Paris.”

The 25-year-old hasn't yet played the French capital, but he has traveled all over the U.S. since joining the “Mormon” road company almost three years ago. Starting out in the ensemble and as an understudy, the Centreville, Virginia, native has been playing his current role since last October.

“I was a freshman in college, majoring in musical theater, when ‘Mormon’ opened on Broadway. Immediately it became a dream of mine to do this show. I got the soundtrack (winner of the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album) and listened to it every day. I literally wore it out,” recalls Clay with a laugh.

By the time Clay graduated from Penn State, “Mormon” was a well-established hit and the young actor set out to see if he could get in on the action.

“I spent my first summer out of college at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera doing ‘Gypsy’ and ‘The Wedding Singer.’ When I wasn’t working, I was in and out of New York auditioning for ‘Mormon.’”

A longstanding fan of Parker and Stone’s long-running animated sitcom “South Park,” Clay knows what made him fall in love with “Mormon,” and he believes he also knows what makes audiences flock to it.

“A really good comedy always works, because people love to go to the theater to laugh. Trey and Matt did a lot of research, so their comedy is really smart. And each song is an homage to a different musical theater style, written to be comforting via a familiar song structure.

“There’s a classic, old-style tap number, ‘Turn It Off,’ set to swing music, and an epic, grand Andrew Lloyd Webber-style rock anthem, ‘Man Up.’ And ‘You and Me (But Mostly Me)’ is a power ballad, inspired by Elphaba in ‘Wicked,’ that’s my favorite because it sets up Elder Price for all the ridiculousness that will follow,” says Clay.

That’s a considerable amount, according to the performer.

“I saw the show for the first time after I was hired for the tour. I sat and watched the company that I was about to join and saw so many weird, crazy, hysterically funny things that I’d never noticed on the album.”